Something I enjoy...there's a thought

Now that I'm nearing a full four months of life in England, I find myself needing to write less often about the novelty of things I see- and more about just general life reflections that could probably occur anywhere.

Although - I did find it strange to see two gigantic horses carrying traffic patrol officers through the streets of Oxford the other day- something I also saw in London- and I wondered whether horses are more effective for police transportation or if they are just there to impress simple minds like mine as I pass by on my squeaky bicycle. I guess no one is going to mess with a guy on such a lovable animal, especially here- and certainly traffic will slow down just for a good look if nothing else right? The horses makes the day glow vests of fluorescent yellow worn by the police seem a bit unnecessary.

Anyhow, this is why I can't think too much about Oxford novelties.

Tonight, I went to a very American Mexican Fiesta!! I was so thrilled because this is the first Mexican food I've eaten since coming to England. Mexican food doesn't really exist around here for obvious reasons that I never would have considered before coming. Indian is the popular spicy alternative to traditional British food. One of the graduate students from Regent's brought the necessary spices back from his home in California - and since my friend Caitlan is a member of the MCR (graduate group) I was given an invite to the festivities.

The guys' flat was the most modern house I've been in here. And it seems that most, or a good many, of the ministerial graduates here are from America. Top that with tortillas and Kelly Clarkson on the itunes and I felt as though I could have been right back in Georgetown in one of the East Campus apartments- a very good evening-

One of the things I enjoyed was talking to Carly, who is from California/Washington State. She studied here as a visiting student before graduate studies- so she could relate very well to my experience of coming junior year- She shared some interesting effects when going back home that I really haven't considered yet ( missing out on inside jokes, drama with friend, changes in relationships etc.) We seemed to have had a lot in common - interest in ethics or other abstract thought subjects, and most of all the experience of perplexity over which direction to choose out of so many interests- and that concern over "making a valuable contribution to the world" She actually studies Old Testament Ethics- and talked of continuing on in academia in research even though she struggled with it perhaps being a little selfish to do so-

She balanced this however, with some advice from her high school calculus teacher who told her that infamous "do something you enjoy" - but not in the interest of just being satisfied in life- but also because it creates the best possibility for making that valuable contribution to the world.

Do something you enjoy.

It's a very simple advice. One that I've been given many times- but I'm not sure I have often considered it in terms of allowing me to contribute to the world more effectively. As a Christian I'm always weighing out what my motives are- money, success vs. altruistic service to society and God- and then as a student I try to find that balance between pleasing "others"(who may just be the standards I put in my mind) or just learning what interests me to the best of my ability- When I try to sort it out between how much and what kind of "selfishness" is reasonable or necessary to allow me to make the best contribution -well it all just gets garbled in my mind. I need to just stick to simply "doing something I enjoy" - that is what I think until I realize I just haven't narrowed things in life down to that point. I feel as though I could be happy doing so many different things. Well, that's what I say now. I wonder if in year I will be happy going to more school :)

I am glad when I meet people like me who have eventually found a way into their vocation. It reassures me that one way or another things will work out, and at the end of the day God provides in ways that I just can't see coming. At the moment, going home from Oxford makes me a little anxious- because I can't have an excuse for not making a few decisions that just have to be made within the next year. I remember feeling anxious about college decisions and then things just fell into place with Georgetown and I felt right about it. I'm sure this is how most things go- but at the moment it doesn't make the mystery of my next path any less daunting. I guess it is exciting too...


I am such a typical college student. When everything is said and done, that's just the simple truth. People tell me that one day you grow up and dreams of that "contributing to the world" and "doing what you enjoy" thing just melts into this 9 to 5 reality of not having weekends off anymore. Those promises make me dread the next decade. That's why I have to write down conversations like the ones I had tonight- well, that and the fact that its helping me to avoid the "dreadful" essay writing a little longer.....which interestingly enough I would not often admit to enjoy.....